The Bachelor of Oral Hygiene (BOH) is is a three-year degree programme during which students receive training in basic medical and dental subjects. Theory and practice are integrated from the first year of study. The second half of the first year is dedicated to training in the pre-clinical training ward. Thereafter, from the second year, students treat patients in the well-equipped Oral and Dental Hospital. The work includes the education of patients, oral hygiene instruction, polishing and scaling of teeth, fluoride application and the application of fissure-sealing agents to teeth. It furthermore includes, among other functions, placement of certain restorations and administering of local anaesthesia.
Oral hygiene entails the maintenance and care of the teeth and gums. The oral hygienist plays an important role in the evaluation, planning, prevention and treatment of diseases of the oral cavity and renders a preventative, educational and therapeutic service to each patient and to the community. In addition to their role as students, aspirant oral hygienists have a variety of other tasks to perform. These include participation in community projects, visits to nursery schools and special need schools for oral care maintenance. Community service includes visits to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s children’s oncology ward and the Phelophepa Health Train from which a dental service is rendered to the community.
Oral hygiene is an excellent career choice, especially for those who wish to organise their working days according to their own needs. It is a challenging occupation with a high degree of job satisfaction, security and a good income. Oral hygienists play a very important role in modern society. They are trained to inform people about maintaining good oral hygiene. A large part of their daily activities is dedicated to carrying out preventative treatment procedures. Since oral hygienists deal with people all the time, they must have good interpersonal relationship skills, a spontaneous nature and lots of patience. Above all, they should have excellent communication skills, a sense of responsibility and the ability to tackle challenges.
For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.
Oral hygienists
10132001
Transferring students (university experience)
Qualifications from countries other than South Africa
University of Pretoria website click here
Minimum requirements | ||||||
Achievement level | ||||||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Sciences | APS | |||
NSC/IEB | AS Level | NSC/IEB | AS Level | NSC/IEB | AS Level | |
4 | D | 4 | D | 4 | D | 25 |
* Cambridge A level candidates who obtained at least a D in the required subjects, will be considered for admission. Students in the Cambridge system must offer both Physics AND Chemistry with performance at the level specified for NSC Physical Sciences in the table above.
* International Baccalaureate (IB) HL candidates who obtained at least a 4 in the required subjects, will be considered for admission. Students in the IB system must offer both Physics AND Chemistry with performance at the level specified for NSC Physical Sciences in the table above.
3 years, full-time.
As an international role-player focusing on healthcare in Africa, the vision of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria is to maintain health standards through quality education, research and community service. Since its inception, it has grown to be one of the largest health training institutions in the country and boasts an undergraduate and postgraduate student corps of over 6 000.
Students who join this Faculty will be part of a new generation of health professionals. The Faculty’s training is outcomes-based and problem-orientated – a unique way of looking at patients and their health.
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